State Government launches single-use plastics discussion paper

Sunday 13 January 2019

The State Government has today launched the Turning the Tide on Single-Use Plastic Products discussion paper which seeks community and business views on ways to reduce the environmental impacts of plastic items frequently littered, such as coffee cups, straws and plastic bags.

Included in the discussion paper is a review of the container deposit scheme (CDS) which will look at what sort of containers should be included in the scheme and whether the refund amount should be revised.

Minister for Environment and Water David Speirs said South Australia is a national leader in recycling and resource recovery and it is important to have a discussion about single-use plastics and the container deposit scheme.

“I am keen to keep South Australia at the forefront of these areas, and to maintain this position while also increasing economic activity,” said Minister Speirs.

“Plastic is a valuable material integral to modern life. But when littered, it ruins our environment’s pristine image, and harms marine and terrestrial life.

“Increasing interest and action globally is calling for a halt to the impact of single-use plastics on the environment. In October 2018, the European Union announced its intention to ban a range of single-use plastic items.

“We can take more immediate local action on items that are designed and intended for disposal after only a single use, are prone to being littered, are unlikely to be recycled and for which more sustainable alternatives are available.

“South Australia has been a leader in litter reduction and resource recovery for many years, and led the nation in 1977 with the introduction of our successful container deposit scheme.

“In addition to reducing single-use plastics, there’s also an opportunity to see whether we can further improve the scheme.

TheTurning the Tide on Single-Use Plastic Productsdiscussion paper seeks views from the community and business on what it considers are the problems associated with single-use plastic products, alternatives and if there is a need for government intervention.

TheImproving South Australia’s Recycling Makes Centspaper also seeks views on the container deposit scheme including what the opportunities are to build on the success of the scheme in improving recycling and reducing litter.

Consultation runs until 22 February 2019. The discussion papers are available atyoursay.sa.gov.au.